YES are one of the most important prog-rock bands in history and true legends of the genre, with their Classic Tales of YES Tour they will present many iconic songs from the influential and pioneering catalog of the members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which covers more of 50 years of music history, as well as songs from their acclaimed new album MIRROR TO THE SKY, released last May.

Tour 2024
5 May 2024 - Eur Convention Center La Nuvola Auditorium - Rome
6 May 2024 - TAM Teatro Arcimboldi Milan
8 May 2024 - Gran Teatro Geox – Padua

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TAM - ARCIMBOLDI THEATER MILAN
Viale dell'Innovazione 20 – Milan

Tickets available on
Teatro Arcimboldi [Link]
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Edoardo Iannantuoni - Distorsioni Sonore

Thursday, May 9, 2024 8:30 PM

[GOOGLE TRANSLATE from original Italian to English]:

Yes – Teatro degli Arcimboldi, Milan – 6 May 2024

Edoardo Iannantuoni
9 May 2024

After the May 5th date in Rome, Yes also arrive at the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in Milan to bring their progressive rock to their most loyal fans

For their "The Classic Tales Of Yes Tour" the British band did not choose to play in arenas or stadiums, but in theaters or conference facilities as in the case of Rome, where they performed at "La Nuvola".

The goal was to bring all their greatest successes into a different context than usual, and for Yes 's musical genre I must say that the choice turned out to be quite the right one.

The structure of the Teatro degli Arcimboldi has, in fact, perfectly welcomed the sounds of the band and returned the typical emotions of the classic concert, transporting us into the pure progressive rock of Yes.

The theater was not sold-out but there were few empty seats and the average age was middle age and above, which is none other than the age of those who have followed Yes since their inception, i.e. since 1968.

However, there were also some younger faces, some under 30 who, probably, will be those few remaining who have decided to extend their musical culture beyond reggaeton and trap.

The band presents itself in great shape with the older members - none of whom are now part of the original lineup - who, despite their age, seem really excited and ready to inflame the audience.

Guitarist Steve Howe, at the venerable age of 77, looked like a kid as he jumped with his guitar on stage and gave us some solos worthy of times gone by, which erased some uncertainties we had, especially at the beginning of the concert.

[Three acts]
The concert was divided into 3 parts, with a long half-hour break between the first and second parts. The first part gave us 8 songs with some of the band's biggest hits such as “Time and a Word” and “Turn Of The Century”, in the second part we have a kind of 20 minute medley that contains the 70 minutes of the album “Tales From Topographic Oceans” from 1973.

Obviously the third and final part could only be the encore, during which we witnessed a real musical show. The first song "Roundabout", one of the most famous of the band that anime fans will remember thanks to the second season of "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure", unleashed Steve Howe and bassist Billy Sherwood in a truly applause-inducing jam session that, for a moment, made us forget the past years.

But it is with the last song “Starhip Trooper” that Yes outdid themselves and ruffled our hair, making us stand up to applaud and pushing us to pay homage to them with a well-deserved standing ovation that had barely been mentioned for “Roundabout”.

[Conclusions]
This concert can be described as an escalation of emotions, concluded with an epic finale of unexpected power, considering both the age of the band members and the theatrical context which could have suggested more of a bland atmosphere.

The only thing that was mild, however, was the participation of the audience who, unfortunately, needed the last two songs to make Yes feel their warmth.

The only negative note: the half hour break which, in my opinion, could have been reduced. But if it was needed to ensure that the musicians were able to give us those beautiful final moments then they could even make it an hour.

Thank you Yes for your endless songs lasting 10 minutes each which remind us that real music, that of musicians, of multi-instrumentalists, of those who want to commit themselves to something that goes beyond the banal repetition of identical bases, is not still dead.

Set-list:
Machine Messiah
It Will Be a Good Day (The River)
Going for the One
I’ve Seen All Good People
America(Simon & Garfunkel cover) (instrumental version)
Time and a Word
Don’t Kill the Whale
Turn of the Century
South Side of the Sky
Cut From the Stars
The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn) / The Remembering (High the Memory) / The Ancient (Giants Under the Sun) / Ritual (Nous sommes du soleil)
Roundabout
Starship Trooper